2014 Ford Taurus

On the 24th February, 2022, I was driving my 2014 Ford Taurus taxi cab on the highway to go pick up a client. I saw a dash light indicating slippery road and suddenly, I could not control the steering of the car. All attempts to control the steering proved futile, and the car kept swerving on both sides, till it hit the divider between the roads. This is the second time that this incident is happening to me. The first incident resulted to a minor damage, and the car was taken to the shop for fix. With the second incident from last month, this resulted to my car being totaled. I am lucky and grateful to be alive. I spoke to my son and learned that there was a recall on the 2014 Ford Taurus. Below is an excerpt regarding the recall that was responsible for my car being damaged; Summary Feb 10,2020 Manufacturer Recall Number20S04 NHTSA Recall Number20V072 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPOSED TO FREQUENT FULL REAR SUSPENSION ARTICULATION (JOUNCE AND REBOUND) MAY EXPERIENCE A FRACTURED REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK. Safety Risk A FRACTURE OF A REAR TOE LINK SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHES STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Link for reference: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?vin=[XXX]#vin Due to this crash, I have lost my means of livelihood. I've contacted Ford and was sent back to the insurance. I have contacted C INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at undetermined speed, the vehicle was vibrating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the tires were cupping and wearing unevenly, and the passenger’s side control arm and toe link needed to be replaced. Two local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V072000 (Suspension) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

WE WERE RETURNING TO OUR FARM FROM A TRIP TO TOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT THE 70MPH SPEED LIMIT. A RECENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GAVE US A NEWLY PAVED ROAD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY WITH NO WIND AND TEMPS IN THE LOW 80'S. WE WERE ENJOYING THE RIDE AND NOTED WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD WAS. WITHOUT WARNING THE TIRES BEGAN SQUEALING AND THE CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR TAURUS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. THE STEERING BECAME LABORED (I BELIEVE FROM THE AUTOMATED ANTI LOCK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGAGEDING). MY ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE VIOLENT CHANGE IN VEHICLE OPERATION AND REGAIN CONTROL WERE QUICKLY FUTILE. WE SUCCUMBED TO THE LAWS OF MOTION SPINNING HOPELESSLY OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANE INTO THE OPPOSITE DITCH AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MIRACULOUSLY WE THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WE DIDN'T PLUNGE INTO THE MYRIAD OF STEEP TERRAIN CONDITIONS COMMON ON THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. WE DID NOT ROLL BUT CAME VIOLENTLY TO REST ON THE FAR UPSLOPE OF THE OPPOSITE ROADSIDE DITCH. MY LATER RESEARCH FOR THE CAUSE OF OUR SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL PRODUCED THE NHTSA RECALL NO. :20V-072 WHICH IDENTIFIED THE REAR TOE LINK ON CERTAIN FORD MODELS AS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. I LATER CONFIRMED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TOE LINK HAD SNAPPED ON OUR TAURUS AND WAS THE CAUSE OF OUR ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS FORD OF BALTIMORE LOCATED AT 6970 SECURITY BLVD, WOODLAWN, MD 21244, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR TOE LINK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING AND A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND RIM WERE HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS LOOSE AND GRINDING, THE ROTORS FAILED, AND THE REAR BRAKE PADS FAILED, THE HUB BEARING SEIZED AND THE ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,500.